a crash course in cognitive grammar david tuggy sil-mexico

A crash course in A crash course in Cognitive Cognitive GrammarGrammar

David TuggyDavid TuggySIL-MexicoSIL-Mexico

Bio etc.Bio etc.

A second-generation “missionary A second-generation “missionary kid” from Venezuela.kid” from Venezuela.

Grew up with two languages, Grew up with two languages, linguistically-aware family.linguistically-aware family.

Have worked in Mexico with Have worked in Mexico with Nahuatl, 2 ling/trans programs.Nahuatl, 2 ling/trans programs.

Fortunate to work on/with CG since Fortunate to work on/with CG since its earliest days.its earliest days.

www.sil.org/~tuggydwww.sil.org/~tuggyd

What to expectWhat to expect

CG is a theory of linguistics, not of CG is a theory of linguistics, not of translation.translation.

It helps me understand what It helps me understand what language is / languages are like.language is / languages are like.

It seems difficult, if not in principle It seems difficult, if not in principle impossible, to see clearly what impossible, to see clearly what translation is before you have a good translation is before you have a good grasp of what languages are.grasp of what languages are.


CG has helped me synthesizeCG has helped me synthesize Everything I know to be true about Everything I know to be true about

languages fits into it pretty well—languages fits into it pretty well—seamlessly in most instances.seamlessly in most instances.

My hope is that it will help you as well.My hope is that it will help you as well. Then you will understand *Then you will understand *whywhy* *

translation is so hard. translation is so hard. (But don’t expect it to make translation (But don’t expect it to make translation

easy.easy. It may even make you more aware of how It may even make you more aware of how

complex it is.)complex it is.)


Some parts of this presentation are Some parts of this presentation are cobbled together from previous cobbled together from previous presentations.presentations.

Some minor inconsistencies, a bit of Some minor inconsistencies, a bit of incoherence, a fair amount of incoherence, a fair amount of repetition (not necessarily a bad repetition (not necessarily a bad thing.)thing.)

If it’s too elementary for some of you at If it’s too elementary for some of you at times, too bad. times, too bad. I want to make sure you are with me.I want to make sure you are with me. Hollenbach’s principle.Hollenbach’s principle.


Rules: Somebody please keep time on Rules: Somebody please keep time on me, and interrupt me every 15 me, and interrupt me every 15 minutes so I can ask “Are you all on minutes so I can ask “Are you all on board with me?”board with me?”

Feel free to ask clarification questions.Feel free to ask clarification questions. Will try to make time for more in-Will try to make time for more in-

depth discussion too. depth discussion too. But lots to present, so will often stick But lots to present, so will often stick

pretty closely to ppt presentation.pretty closely to ppt presentation.


I tend to talk too fast when I get I tend to talk too fast when I get going—slow me down.going—slow me down.

I’ve made no handouts. I’m happy to I’ve made no handouts. I’m happy to give you the power points.give you the power points.

For those who read Spanish, a lot of For those who read Spanish, a lot of this stuff is in a book (under this stuff is in a book (under development) which you can ask for development) which you can ask for electronic copies of.electronic copies of.

[email protected][email protected]

Two ways with linguistic Two ways with linguistic theoriestheories

Look at them. (Legitimate.)Look at them. (Legitimate.) Look through them. (Potentially more Look through them. (Potentially more

useful.)useful.)

Cognitive grammarCognitive grammar

Is a theory developed largely by Is a theory developed largely by Ronald W. Langacker.Ronald W. Langacker.

It is part of a larger movement known It is part of a larger movement known as “Cognitive linguistics”as “Cognitive linguistics”

One of its basic premises is that One of its basic premises is that language is very closely linked to language is very closely linked to other cognition.other cognition.

I.e., how we talk is not terribly I.e., how we talk is not terribly different in many respects from how different in many respects from how we do lots of other things.we do lots of other things.

What is a language?What is a language?

A language is a structured A language is a structured inventory of conventionalized inventory of conventionalized linguistic unitslinguistic units

Write this definition down, and memorize it.Write this definition down, and memorize it. All of the major words in it are technical All of the major words in it are technical

terms.terms. Starting with “unit”, then:Starting with “unit”, then:

A language is a structured A language is a structured inventory of inventory of

conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits A A unit unit is a cognitive routine that you is a cognitive routine that you

have mastered. You can activate it and have mastered. You can activate it and run through it without special run through it without special “constructive effort”.“constructive effort”.

““Unit formation” or “entrenchment” is Unit formation” or “entrenchment” is close to the ideas of “internalization” close to the ideas of “internalization” and “habit formation”.and “habit formation”.

Our mental life largely consists in Our mental life largely consists in activation of one “unit” after, or activation of one “unit” after, or concurrently with, another.concurrently with, another.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Examples of units are walking, Examples of units are walking,

whistling “Dixie”, opening the whistling “Dixie”, opening the refrigerator, stopping at a stop sign, refrigerator, stopping at a stop sign, reading the time from a clock, reading the time from a clock, recognizing your cat, scratching your recognizing your cat, scratching your ear, figuring out what day of the week ear, figuring out what day of the week tomorrow is, pronouncing [tomorrow is, pronouncing [üü], …(ad ], …(ad infinitum).infinitum).

Several characteristics of units should Several characteristics of units should be obvious from the above examples.be obvious from the above examples.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Some units are basically Some units are basically perceptualperceptual

(e.g. recognizing your cat or a stop-sign)(e.g. recognizing your cat or a stop-sign) Others are basically Others are basically motor-relatedmotor-related (e.g. (e.g.

extending your leg or flexing your foot)extending your leg or flexing your foot) Others are more “Others are more “autonomously autonomously

cognitivecognitive”; less directly connected to ”; less directly connected to the perceptive/motor “periphery” (e.g. the perceptive/motor “periphery” (e.g. calculating how many days till next calculating how many days till next Tuesday.)Tuesday.)


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Units are astonishingly Units are astonishingly flexibleflexible..

You walk, without thinking about it, over You walk, without thinking about it, over all kinds of unpredictable terrain.all kinds of unpredictable terrain.

You can open the fridge from all kinds of You can open the fridge from all kinds of angles, with all kinds of different things angles, with all kinds of different things in your hands, even a fridge you’ve never in your hands, even a fridge you’ve never used before.used before.

You recognize your cat from virtually any You recognize your cat from virtually any angle, even when you only catch angle, even when you only catch interrupted glimpses of it, etc.interrupted glimpses of it, etc.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits This flexibility may take the form of special This flexibility may take the form of special

versions of the routines in question.versions of the routines in question. Climbing stairs, or running, may be seen as Climbing stairs, or running, may be seen as

special kinds of walkingspecial kinds of walking Skipping may be seen as a special kind of Skipping may be seen as a special kind of

running.running. But they can also be rightly seen as different from But they can also be rightly seen as different from

standard or prototypical walking or running.standard or prototypical walking or running. A particular action may exemplify more than one A particular action may exemplify more than one

routine: it makes little sense to worry over routine: it makes little sense to worry over whether a person running upstairs is running or whether a person running upstairs is running or climbing stairs.climbing stairs.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Units are often very Units are often very complexcomplex..

There are There are layers upon layers layers upon layers of units; units of units; units recruit other units as part of their activation.recruit other units as part of their activation. Moving your legs cyclically, keeping the right —Moving your legs cyclically, keeping the right —

constantly changing— amounts of muscular tension constantly changing— amounts of muscular tension on your feet, ankles and thighs, belly and back, on your feet, ankles and thighs, belly and back, keeping your torso upright, interpreting cochlear keeping your torso upright, interpreting cochlear and other signals regarding your balance and and other signals regarding your balance and adjusting accordingly, interpreting visual signals as adjusting accordingly, interpreting visual signals as to your current position and where you expect to go, to your current position and where you expect to go, adjusting for obstacles, all are part of walking.adjusting for obstacles, all are part of walking.

Recognizing a stop sign, extending your leg to the Recognizing a stop sign, extending your leg to the brake pedal (without looking!), pressing it the right brake pedal (without looking!), pressing it the right amount for the right length of time, checking for amount for the right length of time, checking for traffic, starting forward again, all are part of traffic, starting forward again, all are part of stopping at a stop sign.stopping at a stop sign.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits A single unit can be a part of many other A single unit can be a part of many other

units.units. Extending your leg is a part of walking and of Extending your leg is a part of walking and of

stopping at a stop sign, of kicking a soccer stopping at a stop sign, of kicking a soccer ball and of stretching or ….ball and of stretching or ….

Walking is usually part of opening the fridge Walking is usually part of opening the fridge door; it is also part of carrying a plate to the door; it is also part of carrying a plate to the dinner table, or going to the front door or dinner table, or going to the front door or climbing the stairs or…climbing the stairs or…

Puckering your lips is part of (certain kinds Puckering your lips is part of (certain kinds of) whistling, and of kissing, and of of) whistling, and of kissing, and of pronouncing /pronouncing /ww/, and of …/, and of …


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits A unit is typically A unit is typically more than the summore than the sum of its of its

parts.parts. Knowing how to walk and how to juggle is not Knowing how to walk and how to juggle is not

the same as knowing how to juggle as you walk.the same as knowing how to juggle as you walk. Knowing how to hold your tongue to pronounce Knowing how to hold your tongue to pronounce

[[ii] and how to round your lips for [] and how to round your lips for [uu] is by no ] is by no means the same as being able to pronounce [means the same as being able to pronounce [üü].].

Knowing how a pawn can move two squares on Knowing how a pawn can move two squares on the first turn, and how it captures diagonally, is the first turn, and how it captures diagonally, is not the same as knowing how to capture not the same as knowing how to capture en en passantpassant..


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Units’ effective Units’ effective simplicitysimplicity (you can (you can

“wield” them as wholes) does not “wield” them as wholes) does not necessarily (or even usually) mean you necessarily (or even usually) mean you forget their forget their complexitycomplexity.. We don’t forget (though we may rarely pay We don’t forget (though we may rarely pay

attention to it) that walking involves putting attention to it) that walking involves putting one foot in front of the other.one foot in front of the other.

We know that serving a tennis ball involves We know that serving a tennis ball involves throwing it up with one hand and hitting it throwing it up with one hand and hitting it with a racket in the other, and that the ball is with a racket in the other, and that the ball is supposed to go over the net and into the supposed to go over the net and into the proper “box” on the court.proper “box” on the court.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Many units are Many units are culture-relatedculture-related (e.g. (e.g.

whistling “Dixie” as opposed the whistling “Dixie” as opposed the William Tell Overture, recognizing the William Tell Overture, recognizing the shape of a stop-sign, assessing shape of a stop-sign, assessing whether a complete stop is necessary whether a complete stop is necessary or when it’s safe to go, serving a or when it’s safe to go, serving a tennis ball, making tortillas the tennis ball, making tortillas the Mixtec way or starting a fire the Mixtec way or starting a fire the Nambicuara way.)Nambicuara way.)


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Units are Units are established by usageestablished by usage..

You learn how to walk by doing it (and to You learn how to walk by doing it (and to some extent by watching other people do some extent by watching other people do it). it).

It is not simple at first, but takes a lot of It is not simple at first, but takes a lot of concentration (“constructive effort”).concentration (“constructive effort”).

With long practice it becomes easy to the With long practice it becomes easy to the point of being almost automatic.point of being almost automatic.

Tying your shoes or reading your name the Tying your shoes or reading your name the first time is a great accomplishment; with first time is a great accomplishment; with long practice you can do it unthinkingly.long practice you can do it unthinkingly.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits The The number and frequencynumber and frequency of usages is of usages is

important for entrenchment.important for entrenchment. It typically takes many repetitions to thoroughly It typically takes many repetitions to thoroughly

entrench a unit.entrench a unit. High-frequency routines tend to be more central High-frequency routines tend to be more central

to language (and other parts of our lives).to language (and other parts of our lives). SalienceSalience (“emphasis”, cognitive energy) of (“emphasis”, cognitive energy) of

a usage enhances the entrenchment a usage enhances the entrenchment process.process. You are likely to learn faster and remember You are likely to learn faster and remember

longer how to recognize what you are afraid of, longer how to recognize what you are afraid of, or to master something you find fun(ny) or or to master something you find fun(ny) or beautiful.beautiful.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Units are routines: they are in some basic Units are routines: they are in some basic

sense sense proceduralprocedural.. Yet in many, including many perception-Yet in many, including many perception-

related ones, the result of the procedure related ones, the result of the procedure may be a particular (very complex) may be a particular (very complex) statestate of activation (salience) of various parts of of activation (salience) of various parts of the mind.the mind.

When we refer to linguistic structures we When we refer to linguistic structures we are in fact reifying those procedures are in fact reifying those procedures and/or the cognitive configurations they and/or the cognitive configurations they produce. produce.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic unitsunits Unit status is Unit status is a matter of degreea matter of degree..

Routines may be more or less thoroughly Routines may be more or less thoroughly entrenched or mastered. The entrenchment entrenched or mastered. The entrenchment process starts with the first usage, but it process starts with the first usage, but it typically takes many more usages before the typically takes many more usages before the unit is firmly established.unit is firmly established.

Some of the units that constitute a language Some of the units that constitute a language are more thoroughly mastered than others.are more thoroughly mastered than others.

A corollary is that there is no sharp dividing A corollary is that there is no sharp dividing line between what is “in” a language and what line between what is “in” a language and what is not.is not.

Structures are constantly on their way in Structures are constantly on their way in (being learned) or out (being forgotten).(being learned) or out (being forgotten).


conventionalized conventionalized linguisticlinguistic units units Language structures are a subset of the Language structures are a subset of the

enormously complex set of units that people enormously complex set of units that people learn. learn.

They are different from other units in that they They are different from other units in that they are are linguisticlinguistic..

For Langacker, the prototypical core of For Langacker, the prototypical core of language is the (essentially Saussurean) sign:language is the (essentially Saussurean) sign: A A signifiantsignifiant (prototypically a (prototypically a phonologicalphonological structure) structure) is strongly associated with (has a is strongly associated with (has a symbolic linksymbolic link to) to) a a signifiéesignifiée ( (semanticsemantic) structure.) structure.


conventionalized conventionalized linguisticlinguistic units units There are, then, three (and CG asserts, There are, then, three (and CG asserts, onlyonly

three) basic kinds of units in a language:three) basic kinds of units in a language: SemanticSemantic units units PhonologicalPhonological (or other (or other signifiantsignifiant) units, and) units, and Symbolic Symbolic units units

I.e. “bipolar” units consisting in the pairing of a I.e. “bipolar” units consisting in the pairing of a semantic “pole” with a phonological “pole”.semantic “pole” with a phonological “pole”.

There are no separate syntactic or pragmatic There are no separate syntactic or pragmatic units (etc.)units (etc.)

Syntactic units are a particular kind of symbolic units.Syntactic units are a particular kind of symbolic units. Pragmatic structures that achieve unit status are Pragmatic structures that achieve unit status are

semantic.semantic.


conventionalizedconventionalized linguistic linguistic units units The linguistic units that make up a The linguistic units that make up a

language are language are conventionalizedconventionalized:: That is, they are That is, they are conventionalconventional: shared and : shared and

known to be shared by the relevant group of known to be shared by the relevant group of people, andpeople, and

Their conventionality has unit status, i.e. it Their conventionality has unit status, i.e. it has been has been established by established by communicative communicative usageusage..

A word or phrase that I make up and use A word or phrase that I make up and use privately is not part of a language until I and privately is not part of a language until I and someone else use it and successfully someone else use it and successfully communicate with it.communicate with it.


conventionalizedconventionalized linguistic linguistic units units Even then it isn’t part of the language we Even then it isn’t part of the language we

share with others until they learn and use it as share with others until they learn and use it as well.well.

This criterion, then, introduces a number of This criterion, then, introduces a number of parameters along which gradations between parameters along which gradations between what is centrally part of a language and what is what is centrally part of a language and what is clearly not may be observedclearly not may be observed How strongly conventionalized is the routineHow strongly conventionalized is the routine For what group(s) of peopleFor what group(s) of people In whose understanding of it (speaker and hearer In whose understanding of it (speaker and hearer

may differ)may differ) In what social contextsIn what social contexts ……

A language is a structured A language is a structured inventoryinventory of of

conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic units units A language is called (and thought of as) an A language is called (and thought of as) an

inventory to contrast with a couple of other, inventory to contrast with a couple of other, flawed, notions of what a language is.flawed, notions of what a language is.

A language is A language is not a constructive devicenot a constructive device.. The language does not generate sentences. The language does not generate sentences.

People do.People do. The language is their toolbox, the set of The language is their toolbox, the set of

procedures they use to generate and to procedures they use to generate and to understand sentences and (more importantly) to understand sentences and (more importantly) to talk to each other whether in sentences, isolated talk to each other whether in sentences, isolated words, phrases, paragraphs or whatever.words, phrases, paragraphs or whatever.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic units units A language is A language is not a sleek, not a sleek,

streamlined piece of computer streamlined piece of computer programmingprogramming that automatically and that automatically and elegantly produces myriad astounding elegantly produces myriad astounding results —all and only the correct ones, results —all and only the correct ones, of course— with a few simple of course— with a few simple statements.statements. Much of the serious description of any Much of the serious description of any

language looks more like a bunch of language looks more like a bunch of laundry lists.laundry lists.


conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic units units It is a huge set of huge lists.It is a huge set of huge lists.

There are very many overlapping, There are very many overlapping, redundant, quirky, idiosyncratic, iffy redundant, quirky, idiosyncratic, iffy structures that show up as part of a structures that show up as part of a language.language.

I.e. they are (in some degree) units, I.e. they are (in some degree) units, conventionalized, and linguistic regardless conventionalized, and linguistic regardless of how nearly predictable they may be.of how nearly predictable they may be.

Being almost completely predictable does Being almost completely predictable does not mean they are excluded.not mean they are excluded.

Being idiosyncratic does not mean they Being idiosyncratic does not mean they should be ignored. should be ignored.

A language is a A language is a structuredstructured inventory of inventory of

conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic units units This inventory is not haphazard, however.This inventory is not haphazard, however.

It is It is densely structureddensely structured.. Much of the structuring is through the inclusion Much of the structuring is through the inclusion

relationships we described for units generally: many relationships we described for units generally: many linguistic structures recruit others as parts of them.linguistic structures recruit others as parts of them.

So So component-compositecomponent-composite relationships are an relationships are an important structuring mechanism.important structuring mechanism.

AssociationsAssociations of one component with another (from of one component with another (from participation in a composite) are also very participation in a composite) are also very important.important.

Symbolic linkagesSymbolic linkages are such a kind of associations. are such a kind of associations.

A language is a A language is a structuredstructured inventory of inventory of

conventionalized linguistic conventionalized linguistic units units The inventory is also saliently structured The inventory is also saliently structured

because some units because some units categorize categorize others. others. We will be talking a lot about this later: these We will be talking a lot about this later: these

are are schematicschematic and partially-schematic and partially-schematic relationshipsrelationships

What are traditionally called “rules” are What are traditionally called “rules” are understood in CG to be schematic structures understood in CG to be schematic structures which categorize more specific structures.which categorize more specific structures.

Ultimately all these relationships, Ultimately all these relationships, composition, association and categorization, composition, association and categorization, are intimately related, not totally different in are intimately related, not totally different in kind.kind.

In the next powerpoint file, we will In the next powerpoint file, we will start again from the beginning and start again from the beginning and cover some of the same ground again, cover some of the same ground again, presenting it from a different (though presenting it from a different (though perfectly compatible) perspective. perfectly compatible) perspective.

a crash course in cognitive grammar david tuggy sil-mexico

Documents

translation easy

onwith cg

principle impossible

ppt presentation

bad thing

aware family

hollenbachs principle

lingtrans programs